at the same time produce sulpher and nitrogen oxides which combine with water to form harmful acids

the carbon cycle

the cycle of matter in which carbon atoms move from an inorganic form to an organic form and then back again

atmospheric gases that surround the Earth and trap the heat from the sun and warm the Earth's surface. (ex. CO2 and methane)

greenhouse effect

the burning of wood and fossil fuels have caused carbon dioxide levels to triple over the past 40 years

global warming

a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions

permafrost

the oxygen cycle

it is closely linked to the carbon cycle because oxygen is also part of photosynthesis and cellular respiration

oxygen is found in the ozone, molecules of carbon dioxide, water and glucose

it is a part of living things, the atmosphere, water and rock

can be found in the atmosphere, ocean and Earth's crust

inorganic carbon

found in the bodies of living things and in peat

organic carbon

slowly decomposing plant matter produced in low-oxygen environments

peat

under extra pressure and over time, peat can be compressed and transformed into coal

ex. bog

the extent to which a surface can reflect light that strikes it

albedo effect

high albedo = reflects

low albedo = absorbs

nitrogen cycle

the cycle of matter in which nitrogen atoms move from nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to inorganic forms in the soil, to organic forms in living things and then back to inorganic forms in the soil and nitrogen gas in the atmosphere

nitrogen is required for cells to make proteins and DNA

79% of the atmosphere is made from nitrogen gas

two processes in which atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen is converted into nitrate ions

nitrogen fixation

ex.lightning

nitrogen fixing bacteria

the process in which nitrates are converted to nitrites and then to nitrogen gas which is released back into the atmosphere

denitrification

carried out by bacteria that do not need oxygen

speeds up when soil is acidic or water logged

plants require nitrates to make chlorophyll

the phosphorus cycle

the cycling of phosphorus between biotic and abiotic components of the environments

phosphorus is necessary for cell membranes, ATP, DNA and bones

phosphorus in the bedrock is found in the form of phosphate ions (PO34-)